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BROOCH
Unique ID: IOW-336352
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
An incomplete Medieval decorated annular brooch (AD 1300-1400). Treasure case no. 2012 T221.
The brooch is convex at the front and flat on the reverse. Its front surface has a legend within a raised border and the reverse is decorated.
On the front surface the legend has a quatrefoil initial mark and in Lombardic lettering reads: IACEPARMELCHIORBALTASA (the Magi, Jaspar, Melchior and Balthasar).The letter S is the form of an M and is turned sideways to conserve space. At the centre of one arch there is a constriction for the silver-gilt tapering pin. The shaft of the pin is sub-rectangular in cross-section and between the shaft and loop there is a transverse ridge, above and below. The loop has a gap at the back. On the reverse, three foils depict a bird and one has a mythical creature. Each cusp has a sexfoil motif within a lozenge-shaped border. The foils are described clockwise. The bird on the arch with a constriction is bisected to accommodate the pin. This right facing bird has grooves to represent feathers, a short neck, a short tail, trailing feet and its head is facing forwards. The next bird is similar but left-facing and the grooves are deeper and clearer. It has a long beak and a long neck that curves over its back so that the head is facing rearwards. The neighbouring foil has a right-facing mythical creature possessing a mammal-like snout and ears with two clawed feet, its back and long tail being serrated along the top. The final bird is quite similar to the second bird, except that its head is forward facing.
This brooch is in good condition but most of the gilding has worn off.
27.13 (length); 26.78 (width); 3.03 (thickness). Weight: 6.14g.
The names of the Magi were invoked as an amuletic charm throughout the Middle Ages.
The find contains a minimum of 10% silver and predates 1712. It thus qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of precious metal content and age.
Notes:
Treasure Report: 2012/T221
Parish/County: Brighstone, Isle of Wight
A medieval brooch of open quatrefoil form that would have originally been enamelled. The obverse carries an inscription in relief, that reads
X IACEPAR MELCHIOR BALTASA
These words signify the names of the Three Wise Men who followed the star to discover the birthplace of Christ. The names were recited in the Middle Ages as a cure for fever and epilepsy. The reverse of the brooch is divided into semicircular and square panels decorated with flowers and dragons or birds resembling swans.
The brooch is silver and dates from the fourteenth century.
Dimensions: height 27 mm, width 27 mm.
J P Robinson
Curator of Medieval Collections
9th August 2012
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: Regional importance
Class:
Annular
Sub class: Quatrefoil
Inscription:
IACEPARMELCHIORBALTASA
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Acquired by the Isle of Wight Heritage Service, 18/03/2013
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2012T221
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Exactly AD 1300
Date to: Exactly AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 27.13 mm
Width: 26.78 mm
Thickness: 3.03 mm
Weight: 6.14 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 25th March 2012
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2012-1-191; Treasure case no. 2012 T221
Treasure case number: 2012T221
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Brighstone
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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